The Waiter

Khulekani Ndlovu

Mm….something
was just not right no no. Maybe I’m some kind of an over
ambitious lady but I’m sure someone could justify my polished
view. He just can’t be a waiter. I slowly elevated my steaming
china cup of freshly prepared espresso to my glossy lips whilst
staring into my thoughts. Perhaps I could order another cup to see
him again I whispered as I leisurely circled my smooth fingers around
the brim of the cup. Yes, that is what I was going to do. I hastily
gulped down the espresso, the cup with it.

No
this is just a silly dry joke. My lips can hardly accommodate a table
spoon. That is why I don’t like smiling. People think I’m
too business minded and cannot afford a smile but honestly…..
My smile looks like a small slit on a linen sheet, viewed
horizontally. That’s how small my mouth is. But if those people
could view my mind at that lone moment on the coffee table, they
would surely see how ‘business minded’ I am.

“Hey
dark chocolate would you mind spreading your broad wings and glide to
me with another steaming cup of espresso, please make it as hot as
you look” I said drowning in fantasy.

What
am I doing? Dark chocolate? Oh at least only a pair of fairy ears
heard it, and that pair was mine. I almost murdered my reputation in
front of doves, I was surely going to hand myself to the police for
this kind of first class murder. But I hate how my reputation keeps
people away from me. Of course I don’t like people around me
like working drones on a queen bee but I wouldn’t mind a few
like him, I said as I gazed his way.

My
iris aimed at his soft curls which were as black as my lonely nights.
His face was neatly arranged, with the right sizes of organs.

‘Hello
madam, his name is Udumo’ one thin man whispered in my ear, oh
how he reminded me of Oliver Twist. I respect his bravery for he was
the first man who had come that close to me and he would have been
the last if I hadn’t seen Udu. He put on a friendly smile but
his breath wasn’t at all friendly, it smelled like rotten
coffee seeds which had been stuffed in a moist cotton bag ever since
the time of Zeus till now. I almost invited him to my dental clinic
but I was too busy installing teeth onto my thoughts.

Wait
a second! I had not asked this man for Udu’s name. I almost
turned back to call him back when I realised my sitting position. Oh
no, oh no I had just sold myself out on a non-market. I hadn’t
noticed that my cheeks were resting in my palms with my slit (mouth)
at its greatest length. Now I badly needed another espresso to cool
off. Very awkward coz an espresso is hot but this was no time for me
to question my IQ which was actually being disrupted by some random
good looking guy.I
slowly parted my lips, ready to call upon Udu. Before I did so I
quickly reminded myself that I should not mention his name. I took
out my gun (courage), pulled the trigger and shot a glance in his
direction. I then quickly looked down and could hear some manly
laughs from yonder. He was looking at me and that glance made me
realise that he has hazelnut coloured eyes. They quickly crushed my
confidence like a mortar landing upon ripe sweet potatoes.

Hey,
why was I at this place in the first place. I had come here to
refresh my mind after I had been constantly receiving some blackmails
from some strangers. Arghh this is the greatest disadvantage of
making it in life. Another is too lazy to work but has enough
strength to send rubbish, claiming what is not theirs. Well lucky
enough I am rich enough to pay for the highest qualified officer and
he is already on the hunt for this criminal. This senseless criminals
should have just begged me for the money you know.

“Udumo,
some more hot espresso please” I blatted without thinking twice
or thrice, I didn’t even think about it once. My gosh! I just
said his name and within a split second he was at my table and I had
not thought about the excuse I was going to give for knowing his
name.

“Here
you are ma’am” he said whilst placing the cup on the
table. His arms!!! No. they are to muscular, he can’t be just a
waiter I thought or maybe he is some kind of a guy who likes keeping
a fit body, perhaps for the purpose of attracting ladies coz it
seriously worked on me. His bicep was neatly sited in the short
sleeve and his veins were like amarula roots, this is the only thing
that was kind of faulty on him. No way!! It’s a tattoo. Mm
isn’t it too gangster for a gentleman? I looked away as I saw
his hand flexing in my direction.

“I
am Udumo” his hand now in my rear. I didn’t need to think
about it, I then motioned my hand to meet his as I introduced myself
in a squeaky voice. I didn’t mean to but somehow my voice
became rebellious on my lips. He turned away to leave and I continued
with the routine, that is staring. I looked at his masculine figure
fade away and vanish behind the counters. I was too absorbed in my
staring game that I didn’t notice that he was coming back to
the table.

“Excuse
me, how did you know my name before I told it to you” he asked
with a grin. My worst fear had befallen me. I thought that it was a
narrow escape when he had left. It was an honour seeing him again
just like his name suggests but at this point I would be equally
happy if he hadn’t come back to the table.

“Sorry
I have to go” I sincerely said whilst hurriedly dismissing
myself. That was the only way I could use to run away from the
question. I offered him a tip and he negated. WHAT!!! On earth was he
thinking? No one had refused my money before.

Wow!

“See
you soon” he shouted and waved behind the closed glass door of
the small coffee shop but my mood was already in the red zone

Back
in my lovely mansion, the day had given birth to night even though
the bright lighting in my house preserved memories of day. I was
about to go and immerse myself in my queen bed when I heard footsteps
behind me. I was blindfolded and gagged before I could even turn my
head by one degree. Was Flash now in my room for he is the only one I
know to have such swiftness? Trust me, my previously learnt taekwondo
skills were very ‘helpful’. Now I am a kitten fighting a
full grown lion.

I
was manuevered into some kind of a classic car considering how
comfortable the seats were. I could at least appreciate that the thug
was gentle enough, at this point Udu almost budged back into my mind
but this was the wrong timing and place. Some damp cotton wool was
then placed beneath my nostrils and I felt as if I had transformed
into bird plumage.I
woke up in a very dark but well ventilated room. Oh I just remembered
that the blindfold was still on so maybe lights were on but alas I
was not tied. I leaped off the single bed and started directing my
hands in the void aiming for the walls. I ran my sleek fingers on the
exposed bricks hoping to find the door. My hands stumbled upon a
handle and I was about to open it when I was suddenly grabbed by the
waist and pulled back from my freedom. I held the man’s arms,
planning on sinking my nails into his devil’s thick flesh. I
then targeted the veins and when I found them, they were in a weird
pattern. Wait!! The arms were also muscular, they were not veins at
all, it was a tattoo.

I
remembered that I had seen someone with a tattoo but I just couldn’t
remember where. I automatically started reminiscing and the first
image I saw was that of Udu. I almost smiled but the smile fled from
my slit when I remembered his words, ‘see you soon’. This
quickly took me to the coffee table when I saw the tattoo yes it was
Udu’s arm!! It is the same arm interlocking with mine in this
battle of Sarafina, a battle for freedom.I
felt my energy seeping into the dead floor. I deeply sighed and
uttered Udu with the last strand of energy in my breath. Or maybe I
was dreaming
.

“Yes”
he answered.

So
it was him. All the time I was playing Cinderella in a coffee shop
love tale I was actually sleeping beauty falling for a beast? How did
I allow myself to sleep so hard paralyzing my intelligence and common
sense? How foolish I am, is there any greater fool than thou. Busy
sipping coffee whilst sipping out my life and praising this criminal.
I’m dead.My
floodgates then gave in and the waters of lamentation broke out. Even
my cave opened and a vicious lion started roaring from inside. I was
in a sobbing and shouting feat. From a boiling desire of getting out
alive I broke out of his arms and ran for the door.

But
he didn’t pursue after me. He then shouted my name. My feet and
feat then stopped with no intention to resume at all. At this point
the blindfold had become loose and was now clinging around my neck. I
had stopped to listen to what he wanted to say for it was really rare
for anyone to know my name.

“Khu,
I am the officer you hired to help eradicate those filthy
blackmailers. After you left the coffee shop some gangsters came
looking for you and I knew they would soon be headed for your house
so I got there first and took you to this place so that I will
explain everything without rush and leave you here whilst I go back
for those criminals”I
was still listening as he said this. I just wished the ground would
open and let me sink in. what else could I do?

I'm
Khulekani Ndlovu, a 16 year old girl from Zimbabwe. I'm a poet, author,
spoken word artist and model.